Collapsible ice shanty sled



June 23, 1959 A. KRuczvNsiq 2,891,562

COLLAPSIBLE ICE SHANTY SLED Filed July 1. 1957 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A.KRUCZYNSKI COLLAPSIBLE ICE SHANTY SLED June 23, 1959 2 SheetsSheet 2Filed July 1, 1957 INVENTOR.

ANTI/0N). A'Awcz r/vs/r/ COLLAPSIBLE ICE SHANTY SLED Anthony Kruczynski,Madison Heights, Mich.

Application July 1, 1957, Serial No. 669,147

14 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) This invention relates to collapsible andtransportable structures and more particularly pertains to light weighteasily collapsible, erectable, and transportable ice fishing shanty andsled combination.

Collapsible transportation building structures have been employedheretofore such as ice fishing shanties to attempt to facilitate thetransportation of the structure to the area of use and for erecting andmoving the structure to the desired position, however, the severaldevices of the prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuchas they are complicated in design and construction, expensive tomanufacture, and difficult to transport, erect and position for use.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is toprovide an easily collapsible, transportable structure particularlysuitable for ice fishing which is simple in design and construction,inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to transport, erect, and move tothe desired position for use.

An object of the invention is to provide a combined sled-frame forsliding the device thereon and supporting the floor, support bow, andtent structure thereon.

An object of the invention is to provide a floor member on thesled-frame and paired spaced longitudinal rod members disposed betweenthe frame cross members for preventing upward movement of the floormember and for anchoring the tent member against upward movement.

An object of the invention is to provide U-shaped bow member pivotallymounted on the frame lineal side members for supporting a tent closureabove the floor member.

Arr object of the invention is to' provide spring elements in bow membertriangulating braces yielding integrally for moving the bow memberdownwardly in a collapsed position substantially parallel to the framewithout removal of the braces.

An object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tent memberlocated between the floor and the cross beam of the bow member includinga spreader frame connected to the bow member cross beam via resilientlinks.

, An object of the invention is to provide windows and doors in the tentclosure for the purpose of light, ventil-ation, and entry.

,. -These and other objects of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following description of ,a collapsible buildingstructure particularly suitable for ice fishing shanties embodying theinvention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

-Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device in the erectedposition.

Fig. v2 is a side elevational view of the device in the collapsedcondition.

=-,Fig, 3 is a cross sectional view of the device seen in-Fig. 1 takenon the line 3--3 thereof; and Fig. 4 is a perspective, partly in crosssection, view of gtiom States Patent Referring now to the drawingwherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, the collapsible fishing shanty structure disclosedtherein to illustrate the invention comprises a sled-frame 10 forrunning on ice or snow and for supporting the floor 11, bow member 12,and tent closure 13 suspended on the bow member 12 and held down by thepaired longitudinal rods 14.

More particularly the light weight, easily collapsible, erectable andtransportable ice fishing shanty comprises paired lateral frame-runnerangle irons 20 and 21 having upturned ends 22 and 23 at either endthereof, paired lateral frame cross member angle irons 24 and 25disposed across the frame members 20 and 21 at their upturn ends 22 and23 and it is to be noted that all the frame angle irons have horizontalflanges 25 and vertical flanges 26; the one piece plywood floor memberlies on and between the lateral cross member horizontal flanges 25 andis lineally confined between the cross member vertical flanges 26 andlaterally confined by the pins 27 or by extending the floor member 11sidewise outwardly into contact with the lineal frame members 20 and 21and vertical flanges 26; the paired rods 14 are disposed between thelateral cross members 24 and 25 and vertical flanges 26 and overlie thefloor 11 so as to prevent upward movement of the floor 11 and it is tobe noted that the rods 14 are threaded at their end portions and carrythe nuts 28 thereon so that by removing the nuts the rods can he slidendwise outwardly from over the floor mem ber 11.

The tent closure 13 has side walls 29 and 30 which overlie the rods 14and terminate in open ended lapped hems 31 which receive the rods 14thereby anchoring the bottom portion of the tent closure 13 and the tentmay be provided with end windows 32, side Windows 33, and a zipperopenable-closeable opening 34 providing a portal. The tent closure 13 isprovided with end walls 34 and 35 and a top canopy 36 connected to theside and end walls and the canopy spreader tent supp )I't frame 37 liesbeneath the canopy 36 and comprises side spreader bars 38 and 39, endspreader bars 40 and 41, and an intermediate bar 42 connected betweenthe side bars 38 and 39 equipped with bends 43 forrning'sockets for theends of the resilient support links 44 which are hung on the bow member12 cross beam 45 for holding the tent closure 13 in an upright spread,taut position; the canopy 36 can be equipped with a smoke stack grommet46 for receiving an extending stack from a stove which may be disposedon the floor 11.

The U-shaped bow member 13 has supporting stanchion legs 50 and 51pivotally connected as at 52 and 53 to the vertical flanges 26 of thelineal frame members 20 and 21 respectively and the legs 5051 preferablycomprise upper portions 54 connected to the cross beam 45 and lowerportions 55 pivotally connected to the upper portions 54 as at 56 and itis to be particularly noted that the bow member 12 preferably is made ofangle iron with the pivotally connected ends of the leg portions 54 and55 interlocked in a knee joint at the pivot 56 with the inwardlydirected flanges 57 abutting and interlocking against the parallelflanges 58 so as to prevent pivotal motion at 56 beyond a straight lineinone direction and to permit pivotal movement in the opposite directionto move the leg portions 54 and 55 to the positions seen in Fig. 2 insubstantial parallelism with the frame 10 in a collapsed condition.

Paired triangulating braces 59 are connected at their lower ends to theframe members 21 and 22 spaced outwardly from the pivots 52 and 53respectively and at their upper ends to the leg portions 54 above thepivots 56 and normally urge the knee joint into locked straight anglecondition.

The paired triangulating braces 60 are connected to the upper ends ofthe lower leg portions 55 such as at the pivot 56 at one end thereof andat the lower ends thereof are connected to the frame members 26 and 21outwardly of the pivot points 52 and 53 respectively and hold the lowerleg portions 55 in an erect condition in opposition to the paired braces59 so as to hold the U-shaped bow member 12 in an upright condition tosupport the tent closure 13 via the spring links 44 and spreader frame37 as held down by the rods 14 adjacent the floor 11.

In operation, the device having been assembled as hereinbeforedescribed, the user places the device in the collapsed condition of Fig.2 and transports same easily in his car trunk or on top of the car asdesired and upon arriving at the lake edge removes the device and placessame on the snow or ice with the lineal frame members 21 and 22horizontal flange portions 25 acting as runners; the device is theneasily pulled out on the ice or snow to the desired fishing spot and dueto the fact that it can be pulled in a collapsed condition the adverseeffects of wind resistance is obviated.

Upon arriving at the desired fishing spot the user removes the hold-downcable 60 and releases the holddown hooks 61 and the paired spring braces68 move from their extended conditions seen in Fig. 2 under a fullloaded spring condition to erect the bottom half leg portions 55 to anerect position in counteraction to the spring braces 59 which reactagainst the braces 69 due to the fact that they are connected to the topleg portions 54 and pull the top leg portions 54 into an erect straightangle condition with the bottom leg portions 55; the knee joint at thepivot 56 locks against overtravel of the upper leg portions 54 relativeto the lower leg portions 55 and the spring links 54 suspended on thecross beam pull the spreader frame 37 resiliently upwardly to stretchthe tent closure 13 to a taut condition. The device is then easilylocated over a hole in the ice and the hole 63 in the floor ll providescommunication thereto for fishing and the windows 32 and 33 can beprovided with blinds for darkening the interior for improving visibilityinto the water.

While the inventive device has been disclosed and described in itspreferred embodiment, it is obvious that the legs and 51 can be formedof one piece and the triangulating braces 59 and 6t) made of strapmaterial and removably connected to the legs 54 and 51 for supportingthe device in an erect position and for permitting the bow member 13 tomove to a collapsed condition.

The inventive fishing shanty with these features constitutes a compact,easily collapsible, easily erectable, neat appearing, easilytransportable and slidable protective closure easily carried on avehicle and easily moved on the ice or snow and is extremely light forhandling and provides a much more satisfactory fishing shanty than muchheavier, clumsier devices.

Although but a single embodiment of the inventive collapsible closuredevice has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that manychanges may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangement of thevarious elements of the invention within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A light weight, easily collapsible, erectable, and transportable icefishing shanty-sled combination comprising paired lineal angle ironshaving upturned ends constituting sled runners and frame side members,paired lateral angle irons disposed across said lineal irons upturnedends constituting sled draw bars and frame end members; all said ironshaving horizontal and vertical flanges; a plywood floor member lying onsaid lateral irons horizontal flanges and confined against displacementby said lateral irons vertical flanges and against lateral movement bysaid lineal irons vertical flanges at their upturned ends, paired spacedlongitudinal tent holddown rods disposed between said lateral ironsvertical flanges overlying said floor member preventing upward movementof said floor member; said rods being adjacent said lineal members, atent disposed above said floor member having side walls connected tosaid rods and end walls spanning said side walls; said walls having topportions; a canopy member connected to the tops of said walls, aspreader-frame under said canopy member, links on said spreader frameextending upwardly through said canopy member, a U-shaped bow memberhaving a beam laterally spanning said canopy member and connected tosaid links and having paired stanchion legs leading downwardly from saidbeam and having lower ends pivotally connected to said lineal ironsvertical flanges on either side intermediate their length, first pairedtriangulating braces having one end connected to said stanchion legsintermediate their length and the other end connected to said linealmembers vertical flanges adjacent one lateral crossmember, and secondpaired triangulating braces having one end connected to said stanchionlegs and the other end connected to said lineal members vertical flangesadjacent said other lateral cross member; said device being collapsibleby removing said links and braces from said bow member so as to permitpivoting said how member and braces downwardly into a position closelyparalleling said lineal members to collapse said tent on said floor.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said links and braces includingspring elements expandable to permit forced collapsing of said bowmember without removal of said links and braces.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said stanchion legs being upperand lower angle iron pieces pivotally connected in a knee joint withtheir flanges arranged for pivotal movement in one direction and lockingin the other direction; said first paired braces being connected to saidupper leg pieces for holding above said pivotal connection and saidsecond paired braces being connected to said lower pieces below saidpivotal connection; both said paired braces urging said leg pieceflanges in locked condition.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 3, said braces including springelements urging said legs knee joints into locked condition and forresiliently yielding for forced pivoting of said knee joint to collapsesaid legs to lower said tent.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 4, said links including springelements for stretching said tent and for yielding in compensationduring leg pivotal movement.

6. A light weight, easily collapsible, erectable, and transportable icefishing shanty-sled combination comprising paired combined sled runnersand frame side members, paired lateral cross members at the ends of saidside members, a plywood floor member lying between and on saidcross-members, paired spaced longitudinal rods disposed between saidcross-members overlying said floor member, a tent disposed above saidfloor member having side walls connected to said rods and end wallsspanning said side walls; said walls having top portions; a roof memberconnected to said walls at their top portions, a spreader-frame undersaid roof member, links on said spreader frame extending upwardly, a U-shaped bow member having a beam laterally spanning said roof member andconnected to said links and having paired stanchion legs leadingdownwardly from said beam and having lower ends connected to said sidemembers on either side, and paired triangulating braces having one endconnected to said stanchion legs and the other end connected to saidside members for supporting said how member in an erect position; saiddevice being c01- lapsible by removing said braces from said bow memberso as to permit pivoting said bow member downwardly into a positionclosely paralleling said side members to collapse said tent member; saidbraces inclu spring elements expendable to permit forced collapsing ofsaid bow member without removal of said links.

7. A light Weight, easily collapsible, erectable, and transportable icefishing shanty-sled combination comprising paired combined sled runnersand frame side members, paired lateral cross members at the ends of saidside members, a plywood floor member lying between and on saidcross-members, paired spaced longitudinal rods disposed between saidcross-members overlying said floor member, a tent disposed above saidfloor member having side walls connected to said rods and end wallsspanning said side walls; said walls having top portions; a roof memberconnected to said walls at their top portions, a spreader-frame undersaid roof member, links on said spreader frame extending upwardly, a U-shaped bow member having a beam laterally spanning said roof member andconnected to said links and having paired stanchion legs leadingdownwardly from said beam and having lower ends connected to said sidemembers on either side, and paired triangulating braces having one endconnected to said stanchion legs and the other end connected to saidside members for supporting said bow member in an erect position; saiddevices being collapsible by removing said braces from said bow memberso as to permit pivoting said bow member downwardly into a positionclosely paralleling said side members to collapse said tent member; saidlegs having upper and lower pieces pivotally connected in a knee joint,flanges arranged for pivotal movement in one direction and locking inthe other direction; said paired braces being connected to said upperleg pieces for holding above said pivotal connection and said secondpaired braces connected to said lower pieces below said pivotalconnection; both said paired braces urging said leg flanges in lockedcondition.

8. In a device as set forth in claim 7, said braces including springelements urging said legs knee joints into locked condition and forresiliently yielding for forced pivoting of said knee joint to collapsesaid legs to lower said tent.

9. In a device as set forth in claim 8, said links including springelements for stretching said tent and for yielding in compensationduring leg pivotal movement.

10. A light weight, easily collapsible, erectable, and transportablebuilding combination comprising paired frame side members, pairedlateral frame cross-members connected to the side members, a floormember lying between and on at least one pair of frame members, a tentdisposed above said floor member, means holding said tent downwardlyadjacent said floor member, and a bow member having a 'web beamconnected to said tent for holding said tent upwardly and having pairedlegs connected to said beam and supported on said frame side members,said device being collapsible by lowering said bow member to permit saidtent member to collapse on said floor; said how member being pivotallymounted and braces including expandable spring elements to permit forcedcollapsing of said bow member.

11. A light Weight, easily collapsible, erectable, and transportablebuilding combination comprising paired frame side members paired lateralframe cross-members connected to the side members, a floor member lyingbetween and on at least one pair of frame members, a tent disposed abovesaid floor member, means holding said tent downwardly adjacent saidfloor member, and a bow member having a web beam connected to said tentfor holding said tent upwardly and having paired legs connected to saidbeam and supported on said frame side members, said device beingcollapsible by lowering said bow member to permit said tent member tocollapse on said floor; said legs being two piece having upper and lowerpieces piyotal'ly connected in a knee joint pivotal in one direction andlocked in the other direction; first paired braces connected to saidupper leg pieces for holding above said pivotal connection, and secondpaired braces connected to said lower leg pieces below said pivotalconnection; both said paired braces urging said leg pieces in lockedcondition.

12. In a device as set forth in claim 11, said braces including springelements urging said knee joints into locked condition and forresiliently yielding for forced pivoting of said knee joint to collapsesaid legs to lower said tent.

13. In a device as set forth in claim 12, spring elements disposedbetween said beam and tent for stretching said tent and for yielding incompensation during leg pivotal movement.

14. A light weight, easily collapsible, erectable, and transportablebuilding combination comprising paired frame side members, pairedlateral frame cross-members connected to the side members, a floormember lying between and on at least one pair of frame members, a tentdisposed above said floor member, means holding said tent downwardlyadjacent said floor member, and a bow member having a web beam connectedto said tent for holding said tent upwardly and having paired legsconnected to said beam and supported on said frame side members, saiddevice being collapsible by lowering said bow member to permit said tentmember to collapse on said floor; said bow having side legs having kneejoints for collapsing said bow member; and means for locking said kneejoints to prevent said side legs collapsing to maintain said how memberin an erect tent supporting condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,551,762 Marsh Sept. 1, 1925 2,473,076 Scheibner June 14, 19492,717,160 Schmidt et a1. Sept. 6, 1955

